ARCHIVED REPORTS LEC APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION

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5.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES 5.2.1.4.3 Botanical Survey Botanical surveys were conducted during the spring when special-status plant species with the potential to occur in the LEC project area would be most identifiable. Surveys were conducted by CH2M HILL botanist,Russell Huddleston, on April 30,2008. Surveys were conducted by walking meandering transects throughout the proposed LEC project site, associated laydown areas, and electric transmission line interconnection site. Surveys were floristic in nature and followed the nomenclature of plant species from the Jepson Manual (Hickman, 1993) and updated taxonomy from the Jepson Interchange (UC Berkley,2008). Floristic surveys along the proposed natural gas pipeline were conducted by Mr. Huddleston on May 14,2008. Botanical surveys along the gas pipeline corridor focused on open areas along roadsides and edges of farm fields. Cultivated fields, developed areas and residential parcels within the proposed corridor were not included in the detailed survey. No special-status plants were observed during the botanical surveys. A list of all plant species observed during the surveys is provided in Table 5.2-3. Vegetation communities within a 1--mile radius of the LEC project site and 1,000 feet from the natural gas pipeline corridor were categorized and mapped during botanical surveys on April 30 and May 14,2008 by Mr. Huddleston. The majority of the land use surrounding the project area and natural gas line is agriculture,with the exception of small areas of annual grassland.No natural habitats were identified in the project vicinity (Figure 5.2-3). TABLE 5.2-3 Plant Species Observed During Field Surveys LEC Site/ Laydown Natural Gas Scientific Name Common Name Areas Pipeline Apiaceae Anthriscus caucalis Bur-chervil X Conium maculatum Poison-hemlock X Asteraceae Carduus pycnocephalus Italian thistle X X Centaurea solstitialis Yellow star-thistle X Chamomilla suaveolens Pineapple weed X Hemizonia fitchii Tarplant X Picris echioides Bristly ox-tongue X Senecio vulgaris Senecio X Silybum marianum Milk thistle X X Sonchus asper ssp. asper Prickly sow thistle X Boraginaceae Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia Fiddleneck X X Brassicaceae Capsella bursa-pastoris Shepherd's purse X X Coronopus didymous Swine cress X Hirschfeldia incana Field mustard X X 5.2-18 SAC/371322/082330001(LEC_5.2_BIOLOGICAL_RESOURCES.DOC)